Materials and methods for treating age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Described herein are materials and methods for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration by administering a combination of fenofibrate and an esterase inhibitor (e.g., kaempferol or telmisartan).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a subject in need thereof comprising administering fenofibrate to the subject. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the AMD is dry AMD. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , further comprising administering an esterase inhibitor to the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the esterase inhibitor is kaempferol or telmisartan. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the esterase inhibitor is kaempferol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fenofibrate and esterase inhibitor are administered concomitantly. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fenofibrate and esterase inhibitor are administered sequentially. 
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of  claims 1 - 7 , further comprising determining that the subject has a reduced level of PGC-1α expression as compared to a control subject. 
     
     
         9 . A method of decreasing inflammation in a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cybrid cell in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering fenofribrate to the subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the subject is suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  or  claim 10 , wherein the AMD is dry AMD. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising administering an esterase inhibitor to the subject. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the esterase inhibitor is kaempferol or telmisartan. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the esterase inhibitor is kaempferol. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fenofibrate and esterase inhibitor are administered concomitantly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fenofibrate and esterase inhibitor are administered sequentially. 
     
     
         17 . A method of inducing PGC-1α expression in a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cybrid cell comprising contacting the cell with fenofibrate. 
     
     
         18 . A method of increasing mitochondrial content in a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cybrid cell comprising contacting the cell with fenofibrate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  or  claim 18 , further comprising contacting the cell with an esterase inhibitor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the esterase inhibitor is kaempferol or telmisartan. 
     
     
         21 . The method of any one of  claims 17 - 20 , wherein the contacting step occurs in vivo. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fenofibrate and esterase inhibitor are administered to a subject is suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the AMD is dry AMD. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fenofibrate and esterase inhibitor are administered concomitantly. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fenofibrate and esterase inhibitor are administered sequentially. 
     
     
         26 . The method of any one of the preceding claims wherein fenofibrate and kaempferol are administered in a molar ratio sufficient for reducing first pass metabolism of fenofibrate in a subject having age related macular degeneration. 
     
     
         27 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the kaempferol is from a natural source. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the natural source is a plant or plant extract comprising kaempferol. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the natural source or extract is green tea, capers, kale, tea, broccoli, cabbage, beans, endive, leek, tomato, strawberries or grapes. 
     
     
         30 . The method of any one of the preceding claims that improves mitochondrial membrane potential. 
     
     
         31 . The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the subject does not have diabetes.